Winemaker Notes
This vintage of Tenacious is made from Celani Family Estate Merlot (70%) and Cabernet Franc (30%). Incredibly complex and mineral driven, 2016 Tenacious bursts with aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, black cherries, apricot jam, ultra-ripe strawberries, tobacco and sun-baked rock. Tertiary notes of pencil lead, fresh wildflowers, licorice, soy and cola add to the heady aromatic landscape. This wine offers a seamless palate of powerful flavors supported by a backbone of savory, fresh & lively acidity leading to a satisfyingly long finish.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.